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Protecting college credit cards

Sep 01, 2011 Brian Bradley

Protecting college credit cards
College students are vulnerable to identity theft. They make credit card purchases frequently, and sometimes are unaware that thieves have access to their information, Fox 11 Arizona reports.
 To combat the ongoing fraudulent activity, the Better Business Bureau listed some recommendations for students to consider. First, school mailboxes can be insecure. Many of them are right inside the entrance of a dorm hall, which often may not even require an access key to enter. In such cases, letters containing credit card statements may be easily accessible to a criminal. Some banks offer a paperless account. This allows the credit card holder to forego receiving any postal mail from the bank and view his or her statements online. Computer malware is rampant. Having a secure computer is essential to protecting sensitive information. Purchasing anti-virus software will ensure credit card or identity theft is less likely. One of the simplest ways to ensure your account is safe is to check it regularly. If any suspicious activity is evident on a credit card account, a quick call to the bank can resolve issues fairly quickly.